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Long story short (details are irrelevant ... and embarrassing), I may have introduced some atmospheric contamination in my recent oil change. Basically, small dust and dirt flecks, that sort of debris. I only realized this after I started the my car with the new oil.

Everything seems to be running fine, but I'm quite paranoid about something eventually causing damage.

Would that have been caught by the filter? Is there any harm (other than to my wallet) in changing it immediately again?

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    If you've run it already, the damage is done and the contaminants will be trapped by the oil filter.
    – cory
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 13:16
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    I agree with cory here ... though I doubt much damage would be done. The filter is going to catch anything which you'd be able to see. The only thing which would take punishment (in most engines) is the oil pump, but I doubt much would have occurred. Still, the filter will clean the stuff out.
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 16:26
  • @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2: isn't the pump located "downstream" from the filter? ie.: if the filter caught it, it would have caught it before it reached the pump, no?
    – autobottodoggo
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 17:01
  • Not in most cases. Usually oil flows from the pickup to the pump, then it's first stop is the filter. From there it goes out to the rest of the engine (can go anywhere depending on how the engine oil flow is engineered).
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 18:29
  • Depends on opportunity cost.
    – danny117
    Commented May 18, 2017 at 1:26

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Yes, change your oil again, but most importantly the filter. If there were significant contaminants in the oil then they will likely have been trapped by the oil filter, and if there's enough contaminants the filter could get prematurely filled. Changing the filter means changing your oil.

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  • Yes, by "changing", I always mean oil and filter.
    – autobottodoggo
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 15:16
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    That was more for the world at large's benefit @RecoveringNerdaholic.
    – GdD
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 15:17
  • fair enough, just wanted to clarify what I meant.
    – autobottodoggo
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 17:02

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